Obama's Goal of 1M Electric Cars by 2015 Is Doomed

Study: Manufacturers aren't ready to commit to those numbers
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 2, 2011 5:06 PM CST
Obama's Goal of 1M Electric Cars by 2015 Is Doomed
In this Jan. 26, 2010 file photo, the Chevy Volt is seen on display at the Washington Auto Show, in Washington.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

President Obama's goal of getting 1 million plug-in electric vehicles on America's roads by 2015 is all but certain to fail, concludes a new report done in conjunction with the auto industry. Despite decent debuts from the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, major manufacturers won't be producing the volume of vehicles necessary to make it happen, reports the Washington Post.

"There is a big challenge in going from marketing the Leaf or the Volt to early adopters to selling them to mainstream retail car-buyers," said John Graham, author of an Indiana University study—its panel included a Ford exec, a federal scientist, and environmental advocates—that analyzed all aspects of the electric car industry. "Until then, the automakers' production plans will be quite cautious."
(More United States stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X